CONTACT: Spring 1969
May 1st, 1969 will be the start of another Tennis Season for the Bank, and we hope we shall see the continuance of the success we have achieved in the last two years in the Municipal Inter-Departmental Tennis League.
The result of the 1968 Championship has yet to be decided, for matches between other departments remain to be played at the beginning of this season.
It is hoped that this year we shall be able to arrange more tournaments, to take place during the Season, of which one will decide the teams to be chosen for the league.
Club evenings are again to be held at Yardley Park, 6pm on Thursdays. Any new members of the Staff who are interested in joining the Tennis Club will be welcome and guaranteed a pleasant evening's entertainment.
R N MOLL
Hon
Secretary
CONTACT: Summer 1969
Despite unsettled weather conditions at the beginning of the Season, the Tennis Club has once again been well attended. It is disappointing however not to see new faces, but perhaps the better weather will see some new members.
There is only one match result to report, and that, we are pleased to report, was a victory for Bank 'B'. Roger Garner and Mike Bourke, Ian Galloway and Larry Sharrard were the members of the team who beat the Architects by 3 rubbers to 1.
The Championship for last season has been declared void. We were able to retain the cup having finished top of the league table. The Water Dept., however were 3 points behind and they could have won the Championship if they had been able to play their two remaining matches.
R
Moll
CONTACT: Autumn 1969
Bank 'A' have won the Inter-Departmental Lawn Tennis League with the fine record of not having lost a rubber all season. Members of the team were John Ordish, John Britten, Ron Moll, Linda Moll, Roger Garner, Wilf Gray and Graham Capener.
The Water Department, usually our main rivals for the championship, were defeated by 4 rubbers to nil, this being the best performance all season.
A men's doubles tournament was held for the first time this season and after many well fought rubbers Ron Moll and Ian Galloway were the winners; Mike Bourke and Roger Garner were the runners up in an exciting final.
A mixed doubles tournament was not held this year owing to the absence of ladies to provide partners for the many male club members wishing to play in the tournament.
Club evenings have again been well attended and we all look forward to another successful season next year.
R MOLL
Hon Secretary
CONTACT: Summer 1970
Tuesday, 28th April, was the start of a new tennis
season for the Bank. We have been fortunate to retain the league cup for three years, and hope that this year will prove equally successful.
Two teams have again been entered in the Inter-Departmental Tennis League. For the first time a men's doubles team has been entered
in the West Midland Tennis Competition for NALGO members.
Our first match is against Worcester and at this present time a date and
meeting place has yet to be arranged.
I have been very pleased to see many new members coming along on Tuesday evenings and hope that
this will continue throughout the season.
R N Moll
Hon Secretary
CONTACT: Autumn 1970
Club evenings throughout the 1970
Season have again been well attended by members of the Staff. For the first time, members of the Club arranged for further tennis
meetings to be held at Yardley Park on Saturday mornings; this again proved very successful.
The Bank's 'A' team lead the Inter-Departmental
Tennis League having won all their matches played to date. With only two matches to be re-arranged, the team hope that they will retain
the trophy which the Bank have held for the last three years. J Ordish and J Britten have again played a major part in the success
of the 'A' team this year. I Galloway and R Moll, who have played as the second pair in the 'A' team, have also shown excellent form.
There
were several entrants for the Men's Doubles Tournament which has now reached the semi-final stage of the competition: the final result
will be circulated later.
It is to be hoped that next Season will also prove to be as successful and that many new members will come
along for a pleasant club evening.
R Moll
Hon Secretary
CONTACT: Summer 1971
The 1971 season has started with some changes. The Bank’s two teams have withdrawn from the Corporation Evening League and have joined the Birmingham Metropolitan Lawn Tennis League. The ‘A’ team is in Division 3 and the ‘B’ team is in Division 5. The Results so far have been a little unsatisfactory, each team only having one unfinished owing to bad light.
At the Club’s Annual General Meeting it was decided to try Norman Chamberlain playing fields, Shard End for the Club evenings. This so far has turned out to be moderately successful with an average of 12 members attending. The facilities provided are three recently built courts, a car park and changing rooms with hot showers close by.
The Club’s membership is more than adequately manned, but we are a little short of ladies. So come on girls, don’t be shy! In fact, if enough ladies take up membership it is possible that we could enter a team in the Ladies Section of the Birmingham Metropolitan Lawn Tennis League. One of the Ladies teams in the league has offered to play a friendly match this season, whilst another is willing to play a mixed doubles friendly. Here is your opportunity for some competitive games should you want them.
A Gentlemen’s Doubles Knockout tournament is to be held this year and I hope the final of this competition will be played in August, the results of which will be reported in the next issue of this magazine.
The Club has once again entered the N.A.L.G.O. Tennis Competition, our opponents being from Worcester. The fixture, which was played at the Lickey Hills on the 22nd May, resulted in a win of 3 rubbers to 1 by Worcester.
I hope to see new faces at our Club evenings at Shard End and don’t forget Ladies, you could become one of the team.
P.H. Aston
Hon.
Secretary
CONTACT: Autumn 1971
The 1971 season, although as yet unfinished, promises, despite many experiments having
been tried, to be most successful. It becomes necessary because the Corporation Tennis League became defunct, to join the Birmingham
Metropolitan Tennis League. This new league, which was the successor to the Birmingham Parks League, gave our teams the type of competition
that they had been lacking for two or three years.
Bank 'A': Played 6, Won 1, Drawn 2, Lost 1, Unfinished 2.
Bank 'B': Played 7, Won
1, Drawn 3, Lost 2, Unfinished 1.
The following Club members have played in the teams during this season: John Britten, John Ordish,
Graham Capener, Michael Tarver, Ron Moll, David Turner, Larry Sharrard, Roger Garner, John Curtis, Michael Bourke, David Chapman,
Eddie Stokes, Kenny Foster, Peter Aston. A notable absentee from this line up is Ian Galloway who has been unable to play because
of a number of prior commitments. The fact we have so many people to call on must to a great extent be due to the weekly Club evenings
held on Tuesdays. Norman Chamberlain Playing Fields have been used this season with an average of 11 club members attending. One drawback
at this park is that the nets need replacing, but this should be done before next season.
The results of the tournaments so far finished:
Mixed
Doubles American - Winners: Graham Capener and Elizabeth Whittle
Ladies Singles American - Winner: Carol Gaffney
The results of the
tournaments which have not been finished, (Men's Doubles Knockout and Men's Doubles League) and the final positions in the Metropolitan
Tennis League when known, will be circularised.
Peter Aston
CONTACT: Christmas 1972
Let me tell you a story which should make anyone nudging retirement feel
a few feet taller, and those of us under 35 want to hide our faces in shame. The Club once again had a gentlemen's Doubles Tournament
with a record of 11 pairs entered. One of the surprise entries was that of W Gray and C Batstone, who felt they had to show these
youngsters a thing or two.
In the first round they beat Michael Crofts and Trevor Quinn 6-0, 6-2. In the next round they beat Terry
Hinz and John Mace 6-4, 6-3. As the score suggests this match was a little harder, but they still triumphed without losing a set!
On
reaching the Semi-Finals their opponents were Graham Capener and myself. Before playing this game Graham and I discussed it in detail
and came to the conclusion that it would be no pushover - little did we think we would be given the run around! After 2½ hours we
lost by 9-7, 8-10, 6-4. I can say it was the greatest game in which I have ever been involved and cannot wait for a return!
Unfortunately,
I am sorry to say they did not win the Final. In this match they played the Club's 'terrible twins', John Ordish and John Britten,
going down 6-2, 6-2. John Ordish after the match said it was a good job that he and John Britten hit top form otherwise it might have
been a different result. The two Johns are to be congratulated on their win, when it is remembered that in the Semi-Final they beat
Michael Bourke and Roger Garner 6-2, 6-2 just 24 hours before the Final.
The Club this season has had a Singles Knockout Tournament
for the first time, with the Final being between John Ordish and John Britten. They reached the Final in the following fashion:
John
Ordish beat Michael Bourke 6-2, 6-1
Eddie Stokes 6-2, 6-3
Graham Capener 6-0, 6-0
Roger Garner 9-7, 6-2
John Britten beat Peter Aston 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Ken Prentice 6-2, 7-5
Larry Sharrard 6-3, 6-4
In addition to these domestic disputes our two teams have
been doing sterling work in the Birmingham Metropolitan Lawn Tennis League. Division 3 was dominated by our 1st Team from the start,
finishing unbeaten with 17 points out of 20. After the 2nd fixture had been played it was obvious they would be champions, and the
only doubt remaining was who would gain promotion to Division 2 with them. The team has been awarded a plaque which they hold for
a year.
The 2nd Team started the season well with two good wins, but fell away afterwards and had to be content with 4th place in Division
5. This is an improvement on 1971 and with luck they also could be promoted at the end of the next season.
Finally, if you enjoyed
the Buffet Dance last May, just tell Roger Garner or me and we might arrange another.
Peter Aston